Top global developers in race for Saudi utility project
RIYADH
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Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that a total of 31 utility project developers have expressed their interests in the Riyadh-Qassim Independent Water Transmission Pipeline (IWTP) project.
The pipeline project, that runs 1,392 km long and has a transmission capacity of up to 685,000 cu m per day. Of the 31 firms, 19 are from Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from SWPC.
The top international companies eyeing the project include Spanish infrastructure majors Acciona and Abengoa Agua; Germany's Passavant Energy & Environment; Japan's Marubeni; in addition to top Chinese builders Gezhouba Group, China Harbour Engineering and Powerchina International.
Among the top Saudi firms in the race are Ajlan & Bros; Al Bawani Water & Power (AWP); Nesma; Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies; Al Fahd Company; Sicim; Arabian Bemco Contracting; Hassan Allam Holding; Mowah and Tecton Engineering & Construction Saudi Contracting.
The regional heavyweights who have expressed interests in the project are Gulf Investment Corporation and Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting (both from Kuwait); Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa); Egypt's Orascom Construction and Bahrain-based Lamar Holding, it stated.
According to SWPC, the project is being implemented on a BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) model.
The Saudi utility said a private sector developer/developer consortium will be selected for the project following a competitive tender process which will be responsible for the development, financing, procurement, implementation and operation and maintenance of the 1,392-km long pipeline.
The successful bidder, through a special purpose vehicle, will provide the required storage capacity to SWPC under a 35-year water storage agreement.
For the project, Synergy Consulting IFA has been signed up as the lead and financial advisor, while Amer Al Amr Law Firm will be the legal advisor and Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG the technical advisor.-TradeArabia News Service
